Question 1

What is the degree of accuracy desired by the researcher and stipulated as a level of confidence in the form of a range with a lower boundary and an upper boundary?

Accepted Answer

Confidence intervals specify the range of values within which the true population parameter is expected to lie with a certain degree of confidence. It is a measure of the accuracy desired by the researcher with a specified level of confidence.

Question 2

What does statistical inference take into account?

Accepted Answer

Statistical inference takes into account that large random samples are more accurate than small ones. This is because larger samples better represent the population and reduce the effect of random variation. Option A is incorrect as smaller samples are less likely to be precise. Option B is incorrect as multiple small samples may not represent the population accurately. Option D is also incorrect as two large random samples can differ significantly and not accurately represent the population.

Question 3

Parameter estimation involves the use of three values.Which of the following is NOT one of the three values?

Accepted Answer

The three values required for parameter estimation are the sample statistic (such as mean or percentage), the standard error of the statistic, and the desired level of confidence (usually 95% or 99%). The desired population is not one of the three values required for parameter estimation, as the population is usually assumed to be unknown and is being estimated based on the sample data.

Question 4

Values that are computed from a complete census,which are considered to be precise and valid measures of the population,are referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Parameters are values obtained from a complete census of the population and are considered accurate and precise measures of the population. Statistics, on the other hand, are values obtained from a sample of the population and are subject to sampling variability and potential errors. Errors and variabilities are not accurate descriptions of values obtained from a complete census.

Question 5

When presenting summarizations of data,the most useful tables are ones where a quick inspection will ________ of the findings.

Accepted Answer

The most useful tables for presenting summarizations of data should be able to reveal the basic pattern or patterns, or the essence of the findings quickly without requiring more inspection or interpretation. This feature helps the audience to get a quick grasp of the main message, while leaving out less critical details.

Question 6

The set of procedures in which the sample size and sample statistic are used to make an estimate of the corresponding population parameter is called:

Accepted Answer

Statistical inference involves using the information obtained from a sample to make inferences or estimates about a population parameter. This can involve using sample statistics such as the mean or proportion to estimate the corresponding population parameters. Therefore, B is the best choice. The other options are not commonly used terms in statistics.

Question 7

Nominal data are summarized with the following descriptive measures EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Nominal data can be summarized with frequencies, percents, and frequency distributions, but descriptive measures such as measures of central tendency or variability cannot be calculated because nominal data cannot be ordered or measured on a numerical scale. Therefore, the option "C) Variables" is the only one that does not fit as a descriptive measure for nominal data.

Question 8

The hypothesized population parameter value can be determined using:

Accepted Answer

The hypothesized population parameter value can be determined using either a percentage or a mean. A percentage represents the proportion of the population with a certain characteristic, while a mean represents the average value of a variable in the population. Both of these can be used to estimate a population parameter value, such as the proportion of people who prefer a certain political candidate or the average income of a population. A median, on the other hand, is not useful for estimating a population parameter value as it only represents the middle value of a distribution and does not take into account the entire population.

Question 9

The scaling assumptions underlying a question determine which ________ is appropriate.

Accepted Answer

The scaling assumptions of a question determine which descriptive measure is appropriate, as they dictate how data can be summarized and described.

Question 10

A researcher asks the question: "About how many times did you buy fast food for lunch last week?"Which of the following descriptive statistic would he or she likely use?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A researcher asks the question: "About how...

Question 11

Researchers have two options when it comes to reporting confidence intervals to clients or readers of their marketing research reports.These options are:

Accepted Answer

The two options mentioned, the general case approach and the findings-specific confidence intervals approach, are the most common methods for reporting confidence intervals in marketing research reports. The general case approach involves reporting confidence intervals that apply to the entire sample, while the findings-specific approach involves reporting confidence intervals that are specific to individual findings or variables. Depending on the research objectives and data analysis approach, one or both of these options may be appropriate for reporting confidence intervals. Therefore, option A is the best choice.

Question 12

Values that are computed from information provided by a sample are referred to as the sample's:

Accepted Answer

Values computed from a sample are called statistics; parameters are computed from a population. Errors refer to the difference between an observed value and a true value, while variabilities refer to the spread or dispersion of a set of data.

Question 13

When using SPSS DESCRIPTIVES,always bear in mind the ________ being analyzed should be interval or ratio scaled.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is D, variables. DESCRIPTIVES is used to analyze numerical data and requires that the variables being analyzed are interval or ratio scaled. This is because DESCRIPTIVES computes measures such as mean, standard deviation, and range, which only make sense for interval or ratio scaled variables. The other options, mean, median, and mode, are measures of central tendency that can be used with any type of numerical data.

Question 14

With all hypothesis tests,the researcher should keep in mind that the ________ is the only source of current information about the population.

Accepted Answer

The sample is the subset of the population that is studied in a hypothesis test. It is important to keep in mind that the sample is the only source of current information about the population, as we are trying to draw conclusions about the entire population based on the information we gather from the sample. The other options listed (survey instrument, data analysis, respondent) are important components of conducting a hypothesis test, but they are not the source of information about the population.

Question 15

There usually is some degree of variability in a sample(golfers do not use only Titleist balls;students do not always eat at Taco Bell).The ________ is a measure of the variability in a sampling distribution.

Accepted Answer

The standard error measures the variability in a sampling distribution, taking into account the variability within the sample and the size of the sample. Option A is not a commonly used term in statistics, option B refers to a specific value calculated from a sample, not a measure of variability, and option C does not make sense in the context of measuring variability.

Question 16

The comparison of the sample statistic with what is believed to be the population value prior to undertaking the study is called:

Accepted Answer

Hypothesis testing is a statistical method that involves comparing the results of a sample with what is believed to be the population value prior to the study. It involves making assumptions about the population and then testing whether the data from the sample supports or contradicts these assumptions. Hypothesis testing is used to make inferences about the population and to draw conclusions from the sample data that can be applied to the larger population. The two types of hypotheses used in hypothesis testing are the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis. The null hypothesis states that there is no significant difference between the sample statistic and the population value, while the alternative hypothesis states that there is a significant difference. By comparing the sample statistic to the population value and calculating the probability of obtaining these results by chance, researchers can determine whether to reject or accept the null hypothesis.

Question 17

With a nominal scale,the ________ is the appropriate measure of central tendency,and variation must be assessed by looking at the distribution of responses across the various response categories.

Accepted Answer

With a nominal scale, the mode is the appropriate measure of central tendency as it represents the most frequently occurring response category. The mean is not appropriate as there is no numerical value associated with the response categories. The median is also not appropriate as response categories cannot be ranked or ordered. Variation must be assessed by looking at the distribution of responses across the various response categories. Therefore, the best choice is C) mode.

Question 18

A researcher could be examining what percentage of golfers buy only Titleist balls,or might be looking at what percentage of high school students buy from Taco Bell between meals.In either case,the mean or percentage is derived from a sample,so it is:

Accepted Answer

The mean or percentage derived from a sample is called the sample statistic. The sample error refers to the random error that occurs when estimating a population parameter based on a sample statistic. The standard error is a measure of the variability in the sampling distribution of a statistic, and the parameter is the true value of the population characteristic being studied, which is often unknown. Therefore, the best choice is C, the sample statistic.

Question 19

A ________ is used to approximate the population value(parameter)through the use of confidence intervals.

Accepted Answer

A parameter estimate is used to approximate the population value (parameter) through the use of confidence intervals. A statistical estimate is a broader term that encompasses various methods of estimating population parameters using statistical techniques. A survey estimate refers specifically to estimates obtained through surveys or sampling techniques. A population estimate refers to an estimate of the total population size, rather than a specific parameter value.

Question 20

Beyond organization,there are guidelines that will ensure that the data presentation tables strongly imply that they are credible and should be taken very seriously.Which of the following is NOT one of those guidelines?

Accepted Answer

While using colors can enhance the visual appeal of the table, it is not necessary to always use two-three colors in each table. The other guidelines listed (using one decimal place, including a table footnote for scales, and only reporting meaningful or useful findings) are all important for ensuring that the data presentation tables are credible and taken seriously.

Quiz 12: Using Basic Descriptive Analysis Performing Population Estimates and Testing Hypotheses